CS 423, Spring 2016

Operating Systems Design

Syllabus

Instructor
Tarek Abdelzaher, 4126 Siebel Center, Tel: 265-6793
Office Hours: Wednesdays 11am-noon, 4126 Siebel Center

Recommended Textbooks

Suggested: Operating Systems:

Internals and Design Principles (8th Edition), William Stallings, 2014

Alternatives:

Modern Operating Systems (4rd Edition), Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Prentice Hall, 2014

Operating System Concepts (9^th edition), Abraham Silberschatz, Peter B. Galvin and Greg Gagne, 2012

Optional: Virtual Machines, James E. Smith and Ravi Nair, Elsevier / Morgan Kaufmann, 2005

Optional: Linux Kernel Development (3rd Edition), Robert Love, 2010

Lecture Times

Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 10-11am, 1404, Siebel Center.

Description

This course introduces students to the next step in operating system design (after CS 241 or equivalent). Students will understand the main operating system functions in class and analyze their implementation through a series of machine problems that require modifications to operating system code. Students will also be exposed to the concepts of virtual machines and issues of distribution such distributed files systems and map-reduce operators for distributed computation. The course will conclude with a series of advanced topics.

Grading

The course will involve 4 machine problems, 2 homeworks, a midterm, and a final. Graduate students have an additional pass/fail assignment. Grades will be assigned as follows:

• Machine Problems: Four MPs will collectively account for 25% of the grade, divided into 4%, 7%, 7%, and 7%. MPs should be solved in groups of 3-4 people. No late submissions are allowed.
• Homework: Two homeworks account for 10% of the grade. Homework 1 will test your prerequisites. Prior to the final, Homework 2 will be given to prepare you for the exam. You will need to work on homework independently. The homework is worth 5% each.
• Midterm: An open-book midterm exam will be held in class for 25% of the grade.
• Final: A final exam with be held last day of class, for 30% of the grade.
• Extra Assignment: An extra group assignment of 3 people will be required of graduate students (taking the course for 4 credits) on an operating systems related topic. It is pass/fail.
• Participation: Accounts for 10%. Includes quizzes and class discussion (either in person or online).